Page end indicator for typewriters



Dec. 15, 1953 og -mga ET AL 2,662,629

PAGE END INDICATOR FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed June 2, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS E E D913 6? HoYsAK ATTORN EY 1953 I E. G. MOSHIER ETAL PAGE END INDICATOR FOR TYPEWRITERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1951 INVENTORS 5. MOSHHE 5- HOYSH EDSON EDWA E- G. MOSHIER ET AL PAGE END INDICATOR FOR TYPEWRITERS Dec. 15, 1953 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 2, 1951 llll llllll-l Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE tion of New York,

Application J one 2; 1951, Serial'NTo. 229,642 16 Claimsr (Cl. ISL-189 This invention relates to improvements inpage end indicators for typewriters.

Since the advent many years ago of visible writing typewriters many efforts have been made to provide a commercially satisfactory page end indicator for such typewriters whereby a typist would be given a warning of the near approach to the writing line of the typewriter of the bottom or trailing edge of a paper sheet beingtyped and, preferably, also be'given a succession of indications in terms of inches, or of line spaces, as to what depth of bottom margin re-- mains as additional lines thereafter are typed on the paper sheet.

Page endindicators heretofore provided have met with indifferent success because they each possess some one or more disadvantages amongwhich are the following:

(1) Inclusion of mechanical operating trains subject to mal-operation and complete failure (6) Necessity for removal or other special han dling or manipulation of the indicator when the typist desires to use the machine without f-unc-- tioning of the indicator;

(7) Inability to function with all lengths of p p (8) Necessity of setting the indicator for the selected sheet length once for each sheet introduced notwithstanding sameness of length of successively introduced sheets;

(9) Necessity of rotatively indexing the platen to different positions relatively to the writing line for introduction of sheets of different lengths; and

(10) Confusion of the typist with respect to how to condition the machine for use with a sheet of selected length to obtain the desired bottom margin indication or page end warning.

An object of the present invention is to provide for a typewriter a page end indicator which is free from the above disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a typewriter a simple, compact and inexpensive page end indicator which readily may be set manually to function correctly with a sheet of any selected length to warna typist of th near approach of the trailing or bottom edge of the sheet to the writing line of the typewriter and, preferably, also to afford a succession of indications of the depth of margin left as succeeding linesthereafter are typed on the sheet.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a typewriter a page end indicator which readily may be set by a typist to function with a sheet of any selected length and which readily will indicate to the typist the proper rotatively index-ed position of the platen for introduction into'the typewriter of sheets to be typed irrespective of the selected sheet length.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a typewriter a page end indicator adapted for use in typing sheets of any length and which yet is of simple, compact and inexpensive construction and so operative that the typist may use the indicator with case, without any confusion, and without loss in work production.

A further object of the invention is to improve the principles of construction and operation of page end indicators.

Qther purposes and advantages of the invention will be made apparent by the following description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings by way of example.

Inthe drawings:

Fi 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the platen and certain adjacent portions of a known front strike, visible typing typewriter equipped with a preferred form of page end indicator embodying the invention, certain known parts of the machine being shown broken away andthe page end indicator being shown set for use with ll-inch paper sheets with the platen rotated or indexed into a proper position for introduction of sheets at the bight of the platen and rear paper feed rolls of the typewriter; i. e., indexed to a paper feed starting position which,

as hereinafter explained, is the same for sheets of all lengths;

Big. 2 is a'view similar to Fig. 1 with certain parts omitted, but showing the platen and indicator as positioned when only l inches of bottom margin. of an ll-inch sheet remains untyped;

straightened Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional r View of the typewriter on the line 44 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line t'5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view on the line 7-1 of Fig.5;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing said known machine equipped with a modified form of page end indicatingmeans embodying the invention, the parts being shown as they would appear when indexed for use with ll-inch sheets while the leading end of an ll-inch sheet already stands at the writing line of the machine;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showing features of the modified means;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the two indexible ring members of the modified indicating means indexed relatively to each other for use with ll-inch sheets prior to introduction of such a sheet into the machine; i. e., for use in the same manner as the means shown in Figs. 1 to '7; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the two indexible ring members of the modified indicating means indexed relatively to each other as in Fig. 8.

The drawings illustrate the invention as embodied in a preferred form and in a modified form, respectively, in a known front strike visible writing typewriter. Only so much of the known typewriter is shown as is necessary to a clear understanding of the invention and these known features now will be described.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, l0 designates a platen roller which has a sheet backing outer sheath Illa of rubber or like material and a core member lb of wood or like material assembled to rotate as a unit. The platen roller is rotatively and removably journaled in a carriage structure, shown in part at H, which is horizontally reciprocal crosswise of the type-- writer to traverse the roller longitudinally of the writing line of the machine. The carriage has two end bearings each removably and rotatively supporting one of two end shafts of the platen roller, one of said end bearings beingshown at 52 and one of said end shafts being shown at 3. Each platen shaft has a platen knob detachably fixed on the outer end portion thereof by a set screw or the like, one such knob and set screw being shown, respectively, at M and IS.

The platen may be rotated in either direction by means of either of its knobs, but it is rotated m paper advancing direction (counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 4) by a line spacing mechanism comprising a line space ratchet wheel it and a pawl mechanism (not shown) which is operative on ratchet wheel IS.

The known machine has a line space ratchet wheel release clutch to facilitate irregular or fractional line spacing and which will be briefly described to illustrate that such a feature, if incorporated in the machine, does not afiect the correct operation of the novel page end indicator. This clutch is of the kind disclosed in United States Patent to Gabrielson, No. 1,614,548, granted January 18, 1927. It includes an assembly ll which is suitably connected to rotate with the platen shaft l3 and the platen roller Ill. The ratchet wheel 16 is mounted on assembly I! for relative rotation between said wheel and assembly, but the clutch normally acts to clutch the ratchet wheel to said assembly to rotate with the platen and has a control knob l8 actuative to cause the clutch to release or free the or a metal.

4 ratchet wheel. Shaft I3 is encircled by a bearing sleeve l9 which extends through carriage end bearing l2 and is confined between the adjacent ends of the platen knob 14 and clutch assembly ll, as shown in Fig. 1.

The carriage structure ll supports paper feeding and guiding means for coaction with the platen roller to feed and guide paper sheets forwardly under the platen roller and upwardly across the writing line from a paper introduction point or sheet feed starting line along and at the rear of the platen roller. Said means con.- prises rotatively mounted rear and front feed rolls 26 and 2| adapted normally to press sheets to the platen roller and releasable at will from the platen as is common in the art, a paper guiding apron 22 underlying the platen roller, and a paper deflecting bar 23 which is supported, as at 24, on the carriage structure ll adjacent each end of the bar and has a straight horizontal upper edge located below and parallel to the writing line of the typewriter. The writing line of the typewriter extends along the platen roller at the level of the horizontal upper edge of the line indicator scale 25. A bracket 26, fixed at 27 to a stationary part of the typewriter and at 29 to scale 25, stationarily supports said scale independently of the carriage and platen roller. The horizontal line of the bight of the platen roller IQ and rear feed roller 20 is the paper introduction point or sheet feed starting point of the typewriter.

The improvements as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 now will be described.

An index member or indicator having a fixed relation with the writing line transversely of said line is required for coaction therewith of the page end indicator proper. The paper defleeting bar 23 of the known typewriter therefore may serve also as such an index member or indicator and is so employed. To this purpose the upper horizontal edge of the left hand portion of bar 23 is utilized to define an index line, and said bar is provided on its front face below said index edge portion with two suitable indicia, such as To end and Set shown at 30 and 3|, respectively, and arranged side by side on the bar to the left of the left hand end of the platen roller sheath idea for coaction therewith of respective ones of the two indicating members of the page end indicator assembly which now will be described.

In the known machine shown, a metal disk 32 is held abutted fiatwise against the left hand end of platen roller core member lllb by screws 33 and has a cylindrical hub which protrudes into said core member and the clutch assembly [1. In the embodiment of the invention shown this disk is modified and utilized as a portion of a page end indicator assembly, the sheath Illa of the platen roller being slightly shortened to provide a protruding left hand end portion of the core member [01), and the disk 32 being provided with a peripheral annular flange 34 which embraces the protruding end portion of the core member.

The page end indicator assembly further comprises two annular or ring-like members 35 and 36 and a set of leaf springs 31. The members 35 and 36 are formed of suitable rigid material, such as a suitable synthetic plastic compound The member 36 is fixedly held on the periphery of flange 34 at the right hand end of the flange to always rotate with the platen roller. Preferably, member 36 is driven or a-eeacac swaged on a raised and fine toothed portion 34a of the flange. Member 35 is journaled on 2. cylindrical reduced left :hand end portion 34b of flange 34 to normally rotate with said portion and the platen and to permit forcible rotary setting movements thereof by a typist about the platen roller axis relatively to member 3 3. To releasably interlock member .35 with the flange against axial separation from the flange, and also to ensure against accidental rotation of the member 35 relatively to the platen "roller and member 36, three retaining and friction holding leaf springs 3'; have their ends-seated in recesses 38 in the inner periphery of the member 35% with the springs bowed into a circumferential groove 340 in flange 34 and the mid-portions of the springs yieldingly pressed in friction holding contact with the bottom wall of said groove. Desirably, and as shown in Fig. 5, a slight spacing of thetwo members 35 and 36 is insured by providing the flange 34 with two circumferential shoulders 35 and to which are abutted by the respective members 35 and 36.

Member 36 of the indicator assembly, as more fully hereinafter explained, carries a paper length scale and carries also an indicator which is rotative past the indicator 23 and is cooperative therewith to indicate the proper rotatively indexed position of the platen for introduction of sheets into the typewriter.

Member 35 of the indicator assembly, as more fully hereinafter explained, carries a bottom margin depth indicator or scale which also serves as a visual warning signal of the approach of the trailing or bottom end edge of a sheet to the writing line of the typewriter. This member .35, as hereinafter more fully explained, is rotative past the indicator 23 and also carries a paper length indicator which, by relative rotative indexing of members 35 and 36, is indexible around the pag or sheet length scale to indicate the length of sheet selected for introduction into the typewriter, and which also coacts with indicator 23 to give an initial warning of the near approach of the trailing end of the sheet to the writing line of the typewriter.

The drawings illustrate the page end indicator in connection with a machine wherein the circumferential dimension of the platen roller (i. e. of the paper backing sheath Illa) is 5 inches,

and wherein the distance the paper advances from the introduction point or feedstarting point at the bight of rollers I and 20 to reach the writing line is inch less than one-half ofv the circumferential dimension of the platen roller; Paper is fed through the machine by the platen roller [6 and the feed rollers 20 and 2| at the rate of travel of the periphery of the platen roller. In the machine shown the paper is fed inches per revolution of the platen roller.

The member 36 carries fixedly on its periphery an annular paper length scale whichis graduated into eleven equal spaces or aliquot parts by eleven scale indicia 4! to form a theoretically infinite paper length scale. The indicia 4| preferably comprise printed or painted lines extending transversely of the periphery of member 36 and are spaced apart to indicate the extent of travel of paper through an aliquot part of one inch inch in the machine shown). The scale thus formed is in effect endless, and a series of eleven, or less, successive inch measurement numerical indicia 42, starting from 0 or any other inch value, may be associated with the graduating indicia 4|.

in the construction shown the :series of rinch.

measurement indicating numbers appear around the scale in contra sheet advance direction be-- ginning with the lowest such number (8) and ending with the highest (18), this arrangement interspersing the higher numbers with the lower numbers atindicated inch intervals. be noted that the graduation of the scale associated with the inch measurement number 211* necessarily is a graduation which represents: a theoretical paper length of .zero, as well as. sheet lengths which equal, or are multiples of, the platen circumference. The scale shown thus comprises, in effect, two complete. consecutive revolutions of a theoretically infinite scale encircling the platen axis.

The member 36 also carries fixedly on its periphery a platen roller indexing or setting indicator 43, preferably in the form of a printed or painted line extending transversely of said member on the periphery of the member, which is rotative past the stationary indicator 23. Before. introducing paper into the machine, the platen roller always is rotated until the indicator 43 on member 36 registers with the upper edge of member 23 above the designation Setj asshown in Fig. 1.

The platen setting indicator 43 must be .so fixedly related to the aforesaid theoretical zero paper length graduation of the paper length scale that said indicator 43 will register with the writing line when said scale graduation and the bight of the platen roller l0 and .feed roller 20 are diametrically opposed around the platen axis, so that, when indicators 23 and 43 are registered and the leading end of a sheet is presented at said bight, subsequent rotation of thegplaten roller and feed rolls of an extent sufiicient to advance the leading end of that sheet to the. writing line will position said scale graduation a half-revolution from indicator 23., or diametrically opposite said indicator. If the distance along the paper advanc path from the paper introduction point of the machine to the writing line were equal to one-half of the circumference of the platen roller, the indicator 43 should coincide' with the theoretical zero paper length graduation, the ll-inch graduation of the paper. length scale in th machine shown, but, since this distance is less than one-half of the platen circumference in the machine shown, the indicator 43 is advanced or placed higher on the scale from said graduation a distance equalto the difference between one-half of the platen circumference and the distance from the introduction point to the writing line. If said distance from the introduction point to the writing line were greater than one-half of the platen circumference, the indicator 43 should be located cor respondingly lower on the paper length scale than the 11-inch or theoretical zero paper length graduation. Said distance in all, or substantially all, machines now manufactured is less than onehalf of the platen circumference.

The member 35 of the indicator assembly car-- ries fixedly on its periphery a paper length in-' dicator 44, preferably in the form of an arrow printed or painted on, and extending transversely It will duce into the machine. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 member 35 is shown indexed relatively to member 36 for use of 11-inch sheets in the machine. Indicator 44 also will serve, as hereinafter explained, to afford a visual warning to apprlse the typist of the near approach to the writing line of the trailing or bottom edge of a sheet being typed.

The member 35 also carries fixedly on its periphery a bottom margin depth scale 45 which also serves as a visual indicator to apprise the typist of the near approach of the bottom edge of a sheet to the writing line. Scale 45, preferably, is a peripheral portion of the member 35 distinctively colored, said portion preferably being colored red and being lined for the color red in the drawings. This distinctively colored scale is graduated in /2 inch by printed or painted lines 46 of a contrasting color, and, in the machine shown, extends through somewhat more than 2 /2 inches of sheet travel, the respective graduating marks or lines having numbers 41 associated therewith on member 35 to indicate their distances from the trailing or zero end of the scale. It will be noted that the numbers 41 are spaced around the platen axis on the scale 45 in contra sheet advance direction in regular order from the highest number 2 to the lowest number /2, or in reverse order to the numbering of the graduation lines of the sheet length scale on member 36. The trailing or zero end of scale 45 is located exactly one-half of the platen roller circumference, or 2% inches in the construction shown, from the arrow 44, i. e., the zero end of scale 45 is diametrically opposite arrow 4 Scale 45 obviously may be graduated in line space distances instead of in inches and fractions thereof.

To enable the typist to locate readily the line 43 on member 35, a distinctively colored zone 38 may be provided on the periphery of member 35 at the leading side of line 43, this Zone being lined for the color red in the drawings.

Preferably, and as indicated at 49 on the drawings, the peripheral surface of member 35 is roughened, as by small transversely extending ribs, from the trailing or zero end of the margin depth scale substantially around to the arrow 44 to facilitate rotative indexing of member 35.

It will be noted from the above description that one of the graduating lines 4| of the paper length scale on member 36 (the one associated with the ll-inch paper length designating number in the indicator shown) corresponds with a paper length measurement of 0 and also with those paper length measurements which equal the circumference of the platen roller, or are multiples of the platen roller circumference. It also will be noted that each of the other graduating lines 4| corresponds with paper length measurements which are equal to the circumference of the platen roller, or to some multiple thereof, plus or minus a measurement less than the circumference of the platen roller, which plus or minus measurements can, by rotatively indexing member 35 relatively .to member 36, be added to or subtracted from the measurements which begin and end with the aforesaid one line t! on the endless scale. The foregoing is true of any paper length scale graduated to divide the platen circumference into aliquot parts, no matter what the circumference may be.

The non-rotative indicator 23, or its equivalent, which is coactive with members 35 and 36 may be located at any conveniently visible point around said members 35 and 35. Also, if desired, member 35 may be fixedly held to the platen roller, and member 35 then be rotative relatively to the platen roller and member 35. If it be desired to provide a bottom margin depth scale of greater length, said scale can be extended on past the arrow 44.

In using the page end indicating means with paper sheets of any selected length, the typist rotates member 35 until the arrow 44 registers with the point on the paper length scale which is indicative of the selected paper length and then, before presenting each such paper sheet at the bight of rollers l0 and 20 and starting the feeding of the sheet, the typist rotatively indexes the members 35 and 36 conjointly relatively to indicator 23 by rotating the platen until the line 43 on member 36 registers with the upper edge of member 23. If the selected paper length is equal to, or less than, the platen circumference, the arrow 44 and margin depth scale will successively register with the upper edge of member 23 during the first revolution of the platen to indicate the near approach of the bottom of the paper sheet to the writing line and indicate progressive depletion of the available bottom margin. If the selected paper length is from one to two times the circumference of the platen, said arrow and margin depth scale coact with member 23 for said purposes on the second revolution of the platen, and said arrow so functions on additional revolutions of the platen as the selected paper length increases.

To easily set the indicator 35 for any selected paper length whatever the procedure now to be described is practiced. If the platen circumference is equal to, or is an aliquot part of, the selected paper length, i. e., if the paper length can be reduced to zero by one or more subtractions therefrom of the platen circumference, the indicator 35 is set to register arrow 44 with the theoretical Zero sheet length graduation of the paper length scale, this graduation being the one with which the ll-inch paper length designating numeral is associated in the construction shown. If, however, the platen circumference is an aliquant part, instead of an aliquot part, of the selected paper length, the paper length cannot be reduced to zero in the manner above described, but subtraction therefrom of, or division thereof by, the platen circumference as many times as possible will leave an ultimate remainder, and the indicator 35 must be set to register the arrow 44 with a point on the paper length scale which is advanced up the scale from the theoretical zero paper length graduation a distance equal to said remainder. If the paper length is less than the platen circumference, subtraction of said length from said circumference will leave a remainder, and the indicator 35 must be set to register arrow 44 with a point on the paper length scale which is retracted down the scale from the theoretical zero paper length graduation a distance equal to said remainder. The inch designating numbers shown on the paper length scale in the drawings facilitate propert SttlII11gst0f the members 35 and 36 rela- 1V6 y o eac 0 her for the most com lengths of sheets. momy used A few illustrative examples of settings of members 35 and 35 for selected paper lengths including lengths not designated on the paper length scale, now will be given to avoid any po sible misunderstanding of the proper setting pr cedure. In considering these examples it should be kept inmind that the parts shown are arranged specifically-for use witha: platen having a circumference of 5 inches.- Consequently, if the paper length is 5 inches, or a multiple thereof; as 11, 16 or 22*inches, for example, the arrow 44 on member 35 should beregistered with the ll-inch graduation of the paper length scale on member 36. On the other, hand; for a paper: length: of 60 inches, the arrow 44' should beregist'ered with the 16-inch graduation, and for a paper length oft-inches the arrow should be registered with the 1 7--inch. graduation. As an example of a setting for a paper lengthzshorter than the platen circumference, for a paper length of 5 inches the arrow 44: shoul'd'be registered with the 16-inch graduation of the paper length scale.

The modified construction shown in Figs. 8 toll now will be described.

In this modified construction, all parts of the machine and of the page end indicating means are constructed and arranged exactly as. in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7, except as hereinafter pointed out, and like parts of" the two constructions are designated. by like reference numerals in the drawings. The modified construction is usable in the same manner as the previously described construction and also is usable in a manner hereinafter more fully described wherein the indicator 43 is indexed relatively to the platen to register indicators 23 and 43 after a sheet, irrespective of its length, has been introduced into the machine and while the leading end edge of the sheet is at the writing line. Thelatter manner of using the page end indicating means: is especially desirable where the typist must introduce into the machine a pack of sheets for mam-folding work.

In the modifiedE construction a metal disk 32 issubstitut'ed. for disk 32:, andring members 35 and 36 are substituted for ring members 35 and 36, respectively. Disk 32? is held to the core member Ill of platen roller H] by screws 33, as in the previously described construction.

Disk 32 has an outwardly extending annular flange 32 at its inner end, which flange. abuts the adjacent end of rubber sheath H1 of the platen roller l0, and the remainder of the periphcry of disk 32 is cylindrical.

Ring member 36 has a friction slip fit on said roller l and also to permit forcible rotation of member 35 by the typist relatively to member 36* and said disk and platen roller. The two ring members are thus relatively rotative or in.- dexibleto indicatethe selected paper length and also are conjointly rotative with the'platen roller and conjointly rotative or indexible relatively to the platen roller. Ring member 36 is confined between the flange 32* and a metal retaining ring 59 which is detachably held to disk 32'* by one or more screws 52. Ring member 35 isconfined between the retaining ring and a circumferential shoulder 36* on member 35..

The member 36 is otherwise identical with member 36 of the first described construction and carries fixedly on its periphery a paper length scale. 4l-42 whose graduations and paper 10 length indicating numbers are identical with, and arrangedinthe same manner as, those of the paper-length scale ofthe first described construction, said member also carrying fixedly on its periphery an indicator 43 and a distinctively colored zone 43 identical with, and arranged in the same relation to the sheet length scale, as those of the previously. described construction.

Member except as above described, is identical with member 35 of the previously described construction and carries ribs 49, a paper length indicator 44 and. a distinctively colored bottom margin depthscale 45-46-41, all identical with, and arranged in the same relation to each other as, those of said previously described construction. In the modified construction, member 35 carries fixedly on its periphery a second paper length indicator 5]], preferably in the form of an arrow printed or painted on the periphery of said member and extending transversely thereof. This second indicatortrails the indicator as by a. distance equal tothat traversed by the leadingend of a sheet in its advance from the bight of the feed roller 20' and platen roller It to the writing line of the machine. Arrow or indicator 'preferably-is printed on the periphery of member, 35 in a color contrasting with that of the colored margin depth scale. It is superimposed on said scale near the trailing end of said scale, and it is advanced up. the scale from the trailingendof the scale-a distance equal to the difference between one-half of the platen circumference and the extent of travel of the leading end of a sheet from the bight of rollers it and 25} to the writing line.

The modified construction of page end indicator shown in Figs. 8, toll is usable in the same manner as the page indicator shown in Figs. 1 to '7, the typistreg-istering the paper length indicator 44 with the point on the paper length scale corresponding to the length of the paper sheet which is to be introduced intothe machine,

then indexing the members 35 -and 36 conjointly relatively to indicator 23 to register indicator it with indicator 23- by rotating the platen roller It, and thereafterintroducing-the paper at the bight of feed roller- 20 and platen roller It and proceeding to feed the paper through the machine and type the paper; The conjoint indexing of members 35 and 36 to register indicators 13 and 23 also could be effectedby rotating member 3t relatively -to the platen.

The modified construction is further usable,

and with the same end result, by the typist registering the second paper length indicator with the point on the paper length scale corresponding to the length of the paper sheet which is to be introduced, intothe machine, then introducing the sheet at the bight of platen iii and roller 23 and rotating the platen roller until the leading end of the sheet arrives at the writing line, then. rotating member 36 to conjointly turn or index members 35 and '36 relatively to the platen until indicators 23 and 53 are registered with each other, and thereafter proceeding to feed and type-the sheet. Of course, if it be-desired to provide'a page indicating means which would operate only in the last described manner, but; which otherwise is identical with that shown in Figs. 8 to 11, the indicator d4 could be omitted. Also if it be desired, the indicator 50 provided i-n-the construction shown in Figs. 8 to 1'1- could be omitted and the indicator 4J4 retained. In this last instance, the members 3 5 and 3'5 would be rotated conjointly, by turning the platen roller, or by rotating member 36, to register the indicators 23 and 43 before starting to feed a sheet from the bight of platen l and roller 20.

We claim:

1. A typewriter having a pair of paper advancing and retracting rollers forming a bight at which paper is introduced into the typewriter, an annular paper length scale and a paper length indicator coaxially mounted for relative rotation into different set relations thereof indicative of paper lengths, means connecting one of said rollers with said scale and paper length indicator for conjoint rotation of said scale and indicator by said one roller, said scale having a series of graduations spaced therearound to divide its circumference into aliquot parts and an associated series of paper length indicating members indicating paper lengths measured from a single one of said graduations and in a direction around the scale opposite to that in which the scale rotates during paper advance, a second indicator fixedly related to said scale and mounted to rotate therewith, a third indicator mounted for travel of said scale and the first two indicators therepast during paper advancing and retracting rotations of said rollers, the fixed relation of said paper length scale and second indicator being such that, when said second and third indicators are registered, a rotation of said rollers sufficient to advance paper from the bight of the rollers to the writing line will position said one scale graduation half way around the scale from the third indicator.

2. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 1, having an arcuate bottom margin depth scale which is concentric with the axis of rotation of said paper lengh indicator and scale and which is mounted to rotate with said paper length indicator with the trailing end of the margin depth scale diametrically opposite the paper length indicator 3. In a typewriter, the combination with a roller platen and a coactive paper feed roller at the bight of which paper sheets are introduced into the typewriter, of page end indicating means comprising first and second members mounted at one end of the platen and coaxially therewith for conjoint rotation of said members with the platen and for selective setting of said members by a typist in different relatively rotated relations with each other indicative of selected paper lengths, a paper length scale encircling the first member and fixedly carried thereby, said scale having a series of graduations dividing it into aliquot parts and an associated series of numbers indicating different paper lengths as measured around the platen circumference in a direction opposite to that in which the platen rotates during paper advance and from a starting point aligned with one of said graduations, a paper length indicator fixedly carried by the second member to coact with said scale in selectively setting said members to position said one graduation and said indicator relatively to each other in accordance with selected paper lengths, page end warning means fixedly carried by and partially encircling the second member with its trailing end with respect to the direction of paper advancing rotation of the platen diametrically opposed to said paper length indicator, a second indicator fixedly carried by the first member to register with the writing line of the typewriter when said one graduation of said scale is diametrically opposite the bight of the platen and feed roller, and a third indicator held against rotation with the platen and for rotation therepast of said members.

4. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said warning means comprises a distinctively colored arcuate band carried on the periphery of the second member.

5. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said warning means comprises an arcuate bottom margin depth scale carried on the periphery of the second member and graduated to indicate margin depths which diminish to zero at the trailing end of said warning means.

6. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 3, wherein one-half of the circumferential dimension of the platen exceeds the length of the path of paper advance from the bight of said platen and feed roller to the writing line of the typewriter, and wherein said second indicator and the paper length scale are so carried by the first member that said second indicator is advanced higher up said scale than said one scale graduation a distance equal to such excess.

7. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 3, having means fixedly holding one of said members to the platen, and means releasably holding the other one of said members against axial move- 'frictionally held thereto to normally rotate therewith.

9. A typewriter having, in combination, a roller platen and a coactive paper feed roller at the bight of which paper sheets are introduced into the typewriter, first and second members mounted at one end of the platen and coaxially therewith for conjoint rotation of said members with the platen and for selective setting of said members by a typist in different relatively rotated relations with each other indicative of selected paper lengths, a paper length scale encircling and fixedly carried by the first member, said scale having a series of graduations dividing it into aliquot parts and an associated series of numbers indicating different paper lengths as measured around the platen circumference in a direction opposite to that in which the platen rotates during the paper advance and from a starting point aligned with one of said graduations, two optionally usable paper length indicators fixedly carried by the second member and. spaced therearound to register with said scale at points spaced a distance which, measured by said scale, is equal to that between the writing line of the typewriter and the bight of the platen and feed roller, a third indicator held against rotation with the platen and for rotation of said members therepast, a fourth indicator fixedly carried by said first member to register with the writing line of the typewriter when said one graduation of the paper length scale and the bight of the platen and feed roller are diametrically opposed about the platen axis, and page end warning means fixedly carried by and partially encircling the second member with its trailing end with respect to the direction of paper advancing rotation of the platen diametrically opposed around the platen axis to one of said paper length indicators and trailing the other one thereof by a distance which, measured by said scale, is equal to the difierence between onehalf the platen circumference and the length of the path of paper advance from the bight of the platen and feed roll to the writing line of the typewriter.

10. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 9, wherein one-half of the platen circumference exceeds the length of the path of paper advance from the bight of said platen and feed roller to the writing line, and wherein said fourth indicator is advanced higher up said scale than said one scale graduation a distance corresponding to such excess.

11. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 9, wherein one of said members is an annular member journaled on the platen and frictionally held to normally rotate with the platen and having a reduced annular portion at one side thereof, and wherein the other one of said members is an annular member journaled on said reduced annular portion and frictionally held thereto to normally rotate therewith.

12. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 11, having means holding said members against axial displacement relatively to each other and to the platen.

13. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said page end warning means comprises a bottom margin depth scale graduated to indicate margin depths which diminish to zero at the trailing end of said means.

14. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said bottom margin depth scale is distinctively colored with respect to said second member.

15. In a typewriter, the combination with a roller platen and a coactive paper feed roller forming a bight at which paper sheets are introduced into the typewriter, of page end indicating means comprising first and second substantially cylindrical members mounted at one end of the platen and coaxially therewith for conjoint rotation of said members with the platen and for selective setting of said members by a typist in different relatively rotated relations with each other indicative of selected paper lengths, an annular paper length scale encircling the first member and fixedly carried thereby, said scale having a series of graduations dividing it into aliquot parts and an associated series of numbers indicating different paper lengths as measured around the platen circumference from one of said graduations and in a direction opposite to that in which the platen rotates during paper advance, a paper length indicator fixedly carried by the second member to coact with said scale in selectively setting said members to position said indicator and said one graduation of the scale relatively to each other in accordance with different selected paper lengths, page end warning means fixedly carried by and partially encircling the second member, a second indicator fixedly carried by the first member to register with the writing line of the typewriter when said one graduation of said scale is diametrically opposite said bight formed by the platen and feed roller, and a third indicator held against rotation with the platen and for rotation therepast of said members, the trailing end of said warning means trailing said paper length indicator around the second member a distance equal to the difference between one-half of the platen circumference and the length of the path of paper advance from said bight to the writing line of the typewriter.

16. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said members are connected with each other for forcible relative rotation of said members with respect to each other and for conjoint rotation of said members by rotation of one thereof, and wherein said one of said members is connected with the platen to normally rotate with the platen and to permit forcible rotation of said one mem-- ber relatively to the platen.

EDSON G. MOSHIER. EDWARD G. I-IOYSAK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 569,909 Atwood Oct. 20, 1896 970,052 Holland Sept. 13, 1910 1,171,326 Dennis Feb. 8, 1916 

